Logistiktrender 2025 - an opportunity to look beyond the horizons
On 20 May 2025, Catena gathered customers and partners in Helsingborg to explore the future and what lies beyond the horizons. What needs to happen now and what needs to happen soon or later to get there?
Logistics is in a period of upheaval. Maps are being redrawn and conditions are constantly changing. Nothing is the same and anything can happen.
The day began with an outlook and analysis of US customs policy by Henrik Isakson, Policy Director for Trade Policy at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and a leading voice in global trade. The next speaker, Malin Ljung Eiborn, Director of Sustainability at Rejlers and Chairman of Cradlenet, also focused on the current situation - she emphasised the importance of not losing focus on climate issues despite a turbulent world.
Anna Engblom, Senior Advisor at Greater Copenhagen, then discussed the impact of the new Fehmarn Belt link on logistics.
Truck traffic will increase by up to 120 per cent with the Fehmarn Belt - we will need to think and plan- Anna Engblom
Niklas Granholm, Research Director at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and member of the International Security Policy Unit, clarified the picture of the geostrategic trends that are affecting the world so strongly now. A global and European security order that we can no longer rely on and, at the same time, a heavily maritime-dependent logistics sector whose conditions have changed dramatically and climate change that will greatly affect societies and transport. Three transoceanic shipping lanes will eventually emerge, and as the ice melts, we will be able to transport goods through the Arctic, but it will still be associated with risks. Finally, Mr Granholm also focused on the risks we face closer to home - in the Baltic Sea.
If you look into the crystal ball, you can see a lot of continued development at the geostrategic level - globally, regionally and locally.-Niklas Granholm
The guests also heard Anna Wolf, Vice President and expert in electrical systems at Power Circle, discuss the electrified vehicles and transport of the future and the need for further flexibility, digitalisation and AI in the electricity system.
Most agree that AI will play a major role in shaping the future. Alfred Ruth, author, entrepreneur and investor, described how humanoid robots could become part of industrial operations and the future logistics network.
Finally, Catena's invited guests heard Dr Patrick Dixon's thoughts on the longer-term future. Mr Dixon is a futurist, keynote speaker and author and he spoke about what changes we can expect but also what will not change. The message was that we have a pretty good idea of what will happen, the uncertainty is more about when it will happen. However, he believes that we can be sure that AI development will be faster than most people expect.
AI by 2060 will be 1 billion times smarter than today.- Dr. Patrick Dixon
